How do you wet peat moss?
dottyinduncan
17 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (21)
bogey123
17 years agohamiltongardener
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Need Help with 'Wetting Agent' for Sphagnum Peat Moss
Comments (11)Dishsoaps are a phytotoxic brew of ingredients, most if not all of which are poisonous to plants and should not be used on foliage, incorporated into grow media, or allowed to become a small fraction of the soil solution. The question isn't whether or not these harsh surfactants will cause damage, it's 'how much damage will they cause'. 'Dawn' contains at least 11 phytotoxic ingredients. Dishsoaps and other household cleaning products can destroy cuticular waxes in leaves, which compromises leaves' protective barrier against biotic pathogens and insect herbivory while also leaving the plant vulnerable to excessive water loss. Detergent solutions that make their way into the grow medium where they come in contact with root cells can quickly dissolve the lipid membrane surrounding cells, killing the cells and inhibiting water/ nutrient uptake. Hair cells growing as appendages off larger roots do the lion’s share of assimilating water and nutrients, and these very delicate cells would be the first casualty of any detergent in the root zone. When establishing new plantings with media containing dry bark/peat, measure out the volume of medium required to fill the pot. Put half of it in a bucket or tub, wet thoroughly, stir, add the dry fraction, mix well, wait 15 minutes. Water and free water vapor from the wet soil will quickly diffuse into the dry soil particles, 'breaking' any tendency of the dry particles toward hydrophobicity well within the span of 15 minutes, leaving the grower with a pot full of grow medium which is evenly moistened and ready to receive plants. Al...See MoreCoco Peat, Coco Coir, Peat Moss...where?
Comments (19)I also have found coco coir to be excellent for seed germination. Coir is going to be superior peat for this for the same reason a paper towel is. It actually allows the seed to stay consistently moist. Peat dries out faster and doesn't have a reliable pH. You also don't have to worry about a bunch of sticks with coco. No nutes necessary for germination. The seed has its own food. Problem is, you have to transplant pretty soon or use liquid fertilizer if you use a medium without nutrients. I make soil blocks with a coco coir/vermicast/sifted compost mix so I don't have to worry about a quick transplant. Coco also won't mold or grow moss and algae on it like peat moss does. At least not until you put nutrients on it. It's just you adding the nutes instead of a pump. There is a very good reason peat isn't used for hydroponics but coco is. Coco is more stable, nearly all brands desalinate as they know the hydro industry is their number 1 customer - so normally no worries concerning salt, and it it's great for aeration because it doesn't break down as fast as peat moss. In fact, I sterilize, desalinate, and reuse the coco for my hydro plants. It lasts at least 3 growing cycles of tomatoes and many more for lettuce (shorter cycles is why). For anyone thinking, "But I don't do hydro," keep in mind that potted plants that require liquid fertilizer is hydro. It's just you adding the nutes instead of a pump. I hold no illusion that coco is more environmentally friendly. I did, because I fell for the media hype. But the reality is otherwise and I now definitely recognize this....See MoreHow wet do you keep the peat moss when growing carnivorous plants
Comments (10)I do it 2 ways- I have the bottom of one of those 'seedling trays' you see all over the place in the spring. I've some pygmy drosera & a bunch of baby sarracenia in there, all in 4" tall pots. (those standard 4" tall, 4" square plastic 'nursery pots') I'll put about 1/2" of (rain not sink) water in there & refill it when the level drops to the point where the bottom of the tray is moist. Then I've a hanging pot- It's one of those ones from Rite Aid with the "thingy" (girlfriend's word) in the bottom so there's a water reservoir there under the media. About 1/2 inch up from the thingy I drilled a few 1/8" holes 'round the perimeter of the pot. Filled it with media & at first I had a little 1/2" piece of PVC pipe I could pour water through down to the reservoir. That got plugged somehow so I took it out. Anyway, I wait until the peat is still moist but starts to pull away from the side of the pot a little- 1/8" or so. Then I gently pour in the water letting it flood across the peat. The bottom fills, excess runs out the holes & it's good for another week in the summer, perhaps a month in the winter. The hanger has pygmies & flytraps & a nepenthes- I just scattered a bunch of byblis seeds in there. Outside I've a pedestal pot- Picture the hanging one sitting on a post. Pretty much the same deal except without the thingy in the bottom. Holes are about 5" down from the top leaving about 2" in the bottom for the water. That's where my adult sarracenia & a few flytraps live.. Plus a little voodoo lily- I've no idea how that got in there nor how it hasn't rotted away yet. So that's how I do it. The plants get to "reach down" to the water without being waterlogged. Seems to work....See MorePeat........Peat Moss.....Sphagnum Moss.?
Comments (7)Sphagnum peat, aka peat moss, is a common ingredient in many potting soils. Potting soils are really soil-less mixes of ingredients designed to accomodate the very specific needs of container grown plants. Peat moss tends to be very moisture retentive, generally of a very small particle size and quite acidic. For these reasons, it should be used sparingly in any potting/container mix. The primary concern of any potting mix is fast drainage and good aeration and too much peat in the mix compromises both of these issues. It is definitely NOT an ingredient I would include in a potting medium to be used for cacti or succulents. For the record, peat is the decomposed remains of various plant products - sedges, mosses (like sphagnum), reeds or assorted other bog loving plants. Sphagnum is a moss that is often used as a decorative item to top off planted containers or to line hanging baskets, etc. Sphagnum peat - or peat moss, as it is most commonly referred to - is the decomposed product, found widely in peat bogs in the upper northern hemisphere. Canada has the world's largest supply of sphagnum peat bogs....See Morelee53011
17 years agobigoledude
17 years agoKimmsr
17 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
17 years agogiboosi_alttara
17 years agodonn_
17 years agodottyinduncan
17 years agodchall_san_antonio
17 years agoKimmsr
17 years agoyugoslava
17 years agonickflooding2
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agowayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoBradley Cahill
7 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
7 years agoBradley Cahill
7 years agoalbert_135 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
7 years agotoxcrusadr
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agonickflooding2
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGNEvoke Mystery and History With Moss in the Garden
Go ahead, lie about age. Moss on garden statues, planters and pavers creates the beautifully deceptive look of time’s passing
Full StoryDIY PROJECTSHouzz DIY: Make a Mini Moss Sanctuary
This easy-to-assemble terrarium brings the joy of moss to your tabletop or shelf
Full StoryHOUSEPLANTSBaby Tears Mimics Moss for a Green Accent Indoors
This adaptable spreader thrives in water or soil, making it a terrific addition to containers and living walls
Full StoryGREEN BUILDINGWorld of Design: The Joy of Moss and Its Modern Uses
This great design plant is 400 million years in the making. See how it’s inspiring art, soothing spaces and building design
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Garden Combo: 6 Beautiful Plants for a Shady, Wet Site
Transform a shade garden with moisture-loving golden grasses, textural leaves and a sprinkling of flowers
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES10 Solutions for Soggy Soil
If a too-wet garden is raining on your parade, try these water-loving plants and other ideas for handling all of that H2O
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN7 Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives
Turf isn't the only ground cover in town. Get a lush no-grass lawn with clover, moss and other easy-care plants
Full StoryTRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURETidewater Homes
With wide porches out front and a wet, hot climate in mind, tidewater homes are a staple in the coastal U.S. Southeast
Full StoryHOUSEPLANTSDIY Project: How to Make a ‘Kokedama’ String Garden
Dig in to create a simple, beautiful Japanese-inspired hanging garden
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Just What Mom Wanted, Off the Washington Coast
With an art studio, age-in-place features and a view-maximizing design, this home shows just how well the architect knows his client
Full Story
toxcrusadr